Web folder and stitcher apparatus



Nov. 25, 1952 0. w. ELLIS, SR

WEB FOLDER AND STITCHER APPARATUS 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed Feb. 15, 1951 INVENTOR DWlGHT W. E:| 1s,sR.

BY F ATTORNEYS NOV. 25, 1952 w, 1445 5 2,619,057

' WEB FOLDER AND STITCHER APPARATUS Filed Feb. 15, 1951 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 INVENTOR DWIGHT vv. E1 1 |-s,sR.

T TOR N EYS Patented Nov. 25, 1952 WEB FOLDER AND STITCHER APPARATUS Dwi ht W- E lis, S g l s ass gno to Dwight W. Ellis, Jr., Monson, Mass.

Application February 15, 1951, Serial No. 211,050

-7 Claims,

This invention relates to improvements in an automatic folder for folding a web of cloth fabric or the like along a central longitudinal fold line and to a machine for automatically stitching together the free marginal edge portions thereof to form a long sleeve-like blanket.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art of processing textile goods to the finished product that it is often desirable to fold the long web of cloth lengthwise and stitch the superimposed free edges of the folded blanket. In a sleeve-like form the cloth may be more easily handled, for example, in apparatus for chemically bathing or rinsing the cloth. In this form the cloth as it goes through a chemical wash will insure a uniformconsistenoy of coloring throughout the goods. The tanks in which such :baths take place generally contain high speed Wringers and rollers over and around which the cloth is wound for passing into and out ofthe bath. The sleeve-like formation of the web insures a uniformity of washing by preventing tucking and overlapping of the cloth portions in one position for any sustained period while in the wash. As the sleeve form is drawn between a set of rollers it will tend to billow and puff out into cylindrical form and thus remove the pleats, wrinkles, .or folds which may have formed in passing between previous rollers. Accordingly .a uniformity of texture in the cloth and its appearance isachieved by the uniform washing action. 7

In textile mills it has long beena common practice to form the desired sleeve of cloth by using a triangular wedge shaped folder having a wide horizontally disposed support as a roller and two converging forwardly and downwardly inclined sides. The sides meet at a point equidistant from the ends of the roller and thus the apex .of the triangular folder may be at acentral longitudinal fold line of a cloth web passing over the horizontal roller. Thus when the web :iS drawn forwardly and downwardly over the nose of the triangular frame, opposite sides of the web can be ginal edges of the cloth cannot for practical purposes he maintained since a relatively wide web 7 of cloth will tend to slip one way-or another on the folder frame and-cause an irregular overlapping of the side edges. Accordinelvan operator mist 'zmanua-lly adjust and hold the free marginal edges of the cloth in registration so as to guide the edges superimposed as desired onto the ta le of a c n ent nal stitch n mechanism- 1 am aware ha app us h s be n designe n conn t on with su h fold rs in an attempt t p v e a omatic fe ding in o th sti her mochanism f m th f dor- H weve suc ttempt in compar s n w th p s nt i ventio are re atively la rate and u erso e. S ch pr o automatic apparatus is also, as far as I know, d g to corre t naccuraci s in th a i nme of the marginal side portions of the folded web aft r the o ing ope a is ompleted by th triangle frame.

It i an object o t pr sen inventio to provide a simplified mechanism which will accurately feed the web of cloth over the triangle frame of the folder to maintain the sides in proper registration durin the folding operation in contrast to correction of alignment after passage of the web through the folder.

Another object is to provide apparatus in connection with the folder for receiving the folded cloth and automatically guiding the stitching mechanism so as to insure a proper sewing of the edges.

fur h b ec s to pro ide machinery .in which a stitcher mechanism is supported on a carriage movable transversely of the folded mov- .ing web and adjustable to prov de at he e thereof the degree of indentation desired inrnaking .a marginal stitch.

Still another object is to provide mechanism for au o ca movin the stitoher head transversely of the Wfib so as to compensate for a lateral shifting of both of the superimposed free edges of the web together, or of one edge with respect to the other s the web is fed from the f e acr ss he work table of the stitcher.

These and other objects and advantagesof-the new mechanism will be seen from the following de crip ion and accomp nyin drawings, n which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus with parts omitted for clarity and showing the principal features of the mechanism;

Fig. '2 is a top plan view of the folder control means to illustrate the action of said arms and the control means associated therewith to maintain proper alignment of the web; I

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail to show the stitoher carriage and drive mechanism therefor;

Figs. 4 and 5 are details showing the finned transfer roller and control device respectively;

and

Fig. 6 is a simplified wiring diagram of the finger operated switch control mechanism for the control arms.

Referring to Fig. l a web of cloth i is shown being fed on the frame of the folder at the top thereof. In the embodiment of the invention herein illustrated the web is taken from a set of terminal rollers 2 at the top of a drying machine (not shown) and is continuously fed therefrom through the apparatus of the invention. The folded and stitched blanket of cloth as at A is then handled and piled in any suitable manner for further processing in a chemical wash tank.

The web is continuously drawn from the dryer through the terminal rollers 2 and first passes over a horizontally supported idler roll 3 journaled v on stationary end brackets 4. Brackets 4 are adjustably mounted on a bar 5 which is in turn supported by braces 6 at each end thereof and mounted on suitable framework (not shown) of the dryer.

From the roll 3 the web passes over the triangular folder apparatus to be described, being drawn into folded condition downwardly beneath the frame of the triangle. There the folded web is turned at'right angles and in horizontal position is drawn past a 'stitcher mechanism at the marginal free edges f the cloth into the bight of twotake-up rolls 1 and 8. Rolls l and 3 are driven as by a conventional sprocket and chain arrangement as indicated by the numeral 9 from any suitable power source acting on a shaft Hl. It will be readily appreciated that rolls '1 and 8 under the compression of conventional spring and its texture, and, in part on the width of the web'being handled. This tension is governed by the speed of take up rolls 1 and 8 with relation to the speed of the feed rollers 2. Rollers 2 comprise the means for resisting the pull of the take up rolls and yieldably creating the desired taut-condition. The tension is preferably suffi- '=cient to prevent any slackening of the web during its travel between rollers 2 and rolls 1 and 8.

Adjacent each end of roller 3 on bar 5 and supported thereby through cantilever brackets l2 are end extensions l3 of two convergent triangle folder frame sides 14. The sides i i are shown as tubular pipes so that the cloth of'the Jweb may easily slip downwardly over the same. The extensions E3 are flat bars with spaced openings, in anyone of which bolts on the outer end of cantilever bracket members 12 may be attached. Since the brackets themselves are rotatably adjustable on bar 5 the attachment through openings [5 permit adjustment, if desired, of sides It as to both length and angularity with respect to roller 3.

Sides I4 are forwardly and downwardly inclined with respect to' roller 3.. At their forward ends the sides converge to'fcrm a nose [6 of the folder,

said nose being the apex of a triangle having roller 3 as its base. I The nose 6 is' equidistant from the ends of the roller 3 and thus is directly opposite the mid point thereof.

Support for the nose of the folder is provided by a stay rod arrangement. A support I! is fixed between the sides 14 adjacent the nose IS.

A rod l8 at one end is anchored to a rear frame post [9 and linked to support 17, then forwardly inclined at 20 to pass through the joint between the outer ends of sides 14. At the fore part of nose IS the rod extends downwardly in a vertical direction as at portion 22 and then horizontally and rearwardly as at portion 23 to be anchored at its other end to a cross brace 24 of the folder guide framework.

The vertical portion 22 of the stay rod directly below the nose 16 also passes between two horizontally disposed fold guide means as bars 25. Bars 25 are mounted on cross pieces 25 adjacent the top of frame end supports 27. These guide bars 25, as will be seen by Fig. 1, are adapted to receive between them the folded web of cloth, each side half of the full web being drawn downwardly and inwardly towards each other into face to face relation from each side It of the triangle folder. The longitudinal center line of the web passes over the nose [6. As the folding of the sides is completed by the bars 25, the vertical stay rod portion 22 prevents any tendency of the folded blanket to ride rearwardly of the frame by bearing against the inside of the fold line and holding the same vertically.

The guide bars 25 at the front end of the frame are loosely mounted on bolts as atEB and are held at the rear of the frame between fingers 29 so that the bars permit a limited amount of play as the web halves are drawn therebetween and the folding is completed. A slotted passage equidistant from each of the sides it is thus formed centrally below said frame.

At the top of the forward vertical frame end supports 21 is mounted an angularly inclined shelf brace 30 on which are pivotally mounted the forward ends of two movable web control arms thereof.

3!. Arms 3! are rearwardly and upwardly inclined passing obliquely underneath the sides [4. t will be noted that the angle between the frame sides is greater than the angle between the control arms and further that the angle of inclination of the sides is also greater than that of the arms. At their rearward ends each arm is mounted on a worm carrier block 32 so as to swing inwardly and outwardly at said ends with respect to sides I4 and below the same.

The carrier blocks 32 are threaded on worm screws 33 journaled at each end in brackets 34 of a frame platform 35. The worms are in end to end relation and form the base of a triangle with the pivotally movable arms 3| as the sides On the outer ends of each worm 33a gear wheel 36 is fixed to the-worm and in mesh therewith is a driving pinion 31 of a motor 38. Each motor 38 is also mounted on platform 35 and is of a conventional type of reversible motor to drive pinions 31 in either direction of rotation.

It will be seen by reference to Figs. 1 and 2 that each control arm 3| adjacent the inwardly directed sides of the web being drawn downwardly from side 14 to the slotted passage between bars 25 may be pivoted transversely and inwardly to bear against opposite side portions of the web. Normally the arms, as will later be explained, bear against said sides with equal pressure. In the event one of the arms is swung inwardly of the frame to a greater degree than the other arm it will be seen to press its adjacent web portion further underneath the frame side I4. The arm in this position has increased its pressure on the cloth on that side and the web will be angled more prominently in passing downwardly from side M. The result of such increased pressure and sharper angular path of .number of similar reasons. I a greater or lesser degree tending to creep in one of the Web (Fig. 1).

travel is to push the entire web laterally over the frame. The webpulls more tightly: on the adjacent side M and thus slides downwardly and forwardly to shift the longitudinal fold -line of the fabric traveling over the nose IS.

The unequal pressure of arms 3| beneath the stationary frame determines the position of the longitudinal fold line at the central portion of the web When the web is pulled downwardly over the triangle frame with its nose positioned at the longitudinal center line of the web the control arms as previously mentioned will normally exert substantially the same degree of pressure against the moving side portions. The arms 3| are substantially in the same relative angular position with respect to sides I 4. It will be readily appreciated, however, that the web, as it is drawn from the rollers 2 under these conditions can readily shift laterally in one direction or another over roller 3. In passing over the triangle folder frame sides H a shift to one side or the other may occur because of slight variations in the width of the cloth, a variation in frictional characteristics thereof, or for any Thus, the web is to sidewise direction or the other. If not corrected, an uneven folding operation is the result.

Control arms 3| will be seen as provided to compensate for the shifting of the web and to maintain travel thereof along a center line of the fold while the web is being run through the apparatus. For appropriate movement of the arms pressure sensitive means is provided as by control devices 40. Each device is mounted on its arm adjacent the opposite marginal edges A finger 4| (see Fig. 5) of the'device bears at its outer end against the marginal edge of the cloth, the finger being vfixed at its upper end to a rotatably mounted switch actuating member 42 carried in a bracket 43 of a switch control box 44. The lower end of the finger is confined in the slot of a guard plate 45.

The control device is of a conventional type.

It is fixed for the adjustable mounting thereof on arm 3| by a collar 46 and bracket 41 arranged to permit the suitable angular disposi- "tion of the finger and guard with respect to the moving web edge. The relative positions of arm 3|, .the finger 4| and the web edge lying at the right side of the apparatus, as in the drawing of Fig. 1 are illustrated by the detail view of Fig. 5.

, I The device has appropriate wiring connections with the reversible motor 38 on the corresponding side of the apparatus so as to operate the worm and control arm 3| in accordance with the rearward or forward movement of the web at the side of the frame.

The switch control finger 4| when under a predetermined pressure against the edge of the fabric is swung inwardly of its guard to turn switch member 42 to a neutral position in which the motor 38 is not energized. Under conditions where the edge of the web crowds the finger 4| by reason of the entire web shifting over on the folder frame the finger is pressed further to the rear. The additional pressure carries member further to the rear and closes a switch to actuate the motor. This causes the worm drive to operate so as to carry control arm 3| inwardly of the frame. As the control arm at one side of the folder is racked inwardly, the

. pressure of the arm against that side of the web .other words the greater drag on the web against sidev |4 under theinfluence of the inwardly directed control arm 3| results in a pushing movement of the entire web to shift the fold line thereof passing over nose |6 back along the longitudinal center line of the web. I

On movement of the fabric web to one side of the stationary folder frame resulting as above in inward pivotal travel of control arm 3| on that side to correct the alignment, it will be realized that the finger 4| on the control arm 3| of the other side is relieved of pressure against it. Accordingly, as in the conventional arrangement of this type of feeler device the finger is spring pressed outwardly of its guard 45 towards the receding web edge. This swinging of the finger outwardly, in contrast to the result of pressure against the finger as described, actuates a switch causing its motor .38 to drive the worm so as to swing its arm 3| outwardly of the frame.

In Fig. 6 a simplified wiring diagram of the finger switch operation of the device is illustrated. Thefinger 4| pivoted at Hill has a switch arm llll biased by spring I02 to urge finger 4| outwardly against the edge of web The finger is mounted on its control arm 3| to normally engage the edge of web with sufficient pressure to hold the contact at end of arm |3| upwardly urged against spring I02 and between the contacts I03 and H34. Thus the motor 38 is normally deenergized. If the web moves away from finger 4|, finger 4| moves outwardly and arm |0| closes the switch contact N33 to establish a circuit operating the motor in one direction. In Fig. lat the left the motor turns the worm counterclockwise thus moving the arm 3| outwardly. If the web increases its pressure by moving against the arm the switch contact at I04 is closed and operates the motor in the reverse direction. (In Fig. 1 the motor turns the worm in a clockwise direction and thus moves the arm 3| inwardly.) Power I lines are indicated at Hi5 and Hit, the first being connected to the motor, the second to the other side of the line through arm ||l|.

It will be appreciated from the drawing of Fig. 2.that an outward movement of arm 3| will cause an arcuate swing of the same away from the adjacent downwardly moving side of the web. However, it will also be noted that the finger 4|, of device 40 carried by the outwardly moving arm, being vertically disposed against the moving edge ofthe web will be arcuately swung toward said edge. In other words as the arm moves away from the side of the web the finger carried thereby moves'toward the edge of said web. Thus when the outward swing of this control arm relieves pressure of the arm against that side of the web, the inward pressure of the opposite arm 3| will accordingly be more effective in pushing the moving web into proper alignment. As the effect of this corrective action on the web is translated into the movement thereof back into alignment by gradual readjustment on the triangle frame, the finger associated with the outwardly traveling arm 3| will again be pressed by the web edge. This finger will first return to a neutral position wherein its motor 38 will stop further outward drive of the arm and secondly to a rearward position whereby the motor is reversed to rack the arm inwardly and return it to its normal position with the moving web registering correctly on the stationary frame.

It will also be appreciated that the opposing arm 3! which was initially carried inwardly to push the web back into alignment tends by such inward movement to carry its finger in an arcuate path away from the downwardly directed web edge. Accordingly as the web is shifted back into correct alignment, pressure against the finger is relieved. This first results in stopping inward travel of the arm and secondly when pressure on the finger ceases, the finger being spring pressed outwardly of its guard reverses the motor to rack arm 31 outwardly. The arm thus returns to normal position with the predetermined pressure of the web edge holding the control switches open and the arm 3| stationary.

It will be realized that the sensitivity of the feeler device may be appropriately gauged so that in operation the control arms 3| are moved only slightly and result in immediate correction of the alignment desired in the moving web. As has been mentioned previously the web is tensioned over the stationary frame and an almost perceptible movement of arms 3| only is required to maintain proper registration of the cloth.

Thus the web is folded between the slotted passage of bars and with but slight variations in proper registration of the superimposed edges is drawn downwardly around a transfer guide roller having widely spaced fins or paddles 5|. Roller 50 is journaled in bearing mounts 52 bracketed to a supporting frame 53 vertically below the bars 25. Frame 53 supports the frame end posts 2: at each side thereof and carries at its other end the take-up rolls 1 and 8.

Fins 5| are provided for the purpose of maintaining a smooth surface contact between the two folded halves of the web. As will be seen from Fig. 4 the outer ply of the folded fabric has a greater distance to travel around roller 50. Accordingly the spaced fins wipe the inner ply in a paddle action and permit the slight slackening thereof between fins while changing the direction of movement of both plies. A frictional bunching of the inner ply with respect to the outer ply is thus prevented in directing the cloth horizontally toward the stitcher mechanism and take-up rolls.

The folded web is drawn horizontally from the 'finned roller 53 underneath a stationary guide bar 55 to the take-up rolls 1 and 8. At the rear side of the frame 53 the superimposed free marginal edges of the folded cloth are stitched by the apparatus mounted as best shown in the detail of Fig. 3. As in Figs. 1 and 3 the free edges of the cloth are drawn across the work table 56 of the stitcher under guide plates 57 spaced at their inner edges for reciprocation of the stitcher needle. The head mechanism 53 and stitcher apparatus is of a conventional type and sews the edges of the moving web together as said edges are moved over the table.

The stitcher apparatus is mounted on a movable carriage 60 as by a bracket plate Si. Carriage B5 is supported at each side and for movement transversely of the web by collars 52 bolted to the carriage and slidably held on guide support rods 63. Rods B3 are mounted between the support frames 53 in any suitable manner as by fixing the ends of the rods to the frames. Centrally of the carriage 60 is a depending offset worm collar 64 having a threaded opening to receive a worm drive shaft 65 suitably supported at each end as for example in the support frames 53. Fixed on the worm shaft is a gear 66. In mesh therewith is a pinion 61 of a reversible motor 68 mounted on a bracket 69 attached to the support frame 53. As the motor is driven in either direction the carriage will be racked forwardly or reversely by the worm drive connection.

The control for motor 68 is mounted on an angle bracket 10 fixed on one side of carriage B0 and comprises a control device H similar to the device 45 on each of the control arms 31 of the folder. A finger 12 and guard 13 are mounted at the free edges of the moving folded web in advance of the sewing table. The finger 12 is adunder a predetermined pressure of the cloth edges thereagainst. Should either one or both of the cloth edges recede from the finger, the finger will be spring pressed outwardly, energizing the motor to drive the worm 65 and advance the stitcher table forwardly. Conversely, if the finger is crowded and pressure of the cloth edges moves against the finger beyond a predetermined pressure the motor will be driven in a reverse direction and the carriage backed away from the cloth edges. In this manner it will be seen that any slight changes in the path of the moving folded web or slight overlapping of said edges will result in the carriage with stitcher mechanism and control device H moving in a parallel path and in the appropriate direction to insure that the cloth edges are sewn together.

It will be realized that the corrective apparatus on the folder for controlling proper alignment in the folding of the cloth with result in minor variations only at the location of the stitching table. Thus only slight movement of the stitcher apparatus backward or forward will insure proper stitching. The adjustment of the device H will of course control the degree of pressurenecessary against finger 12 to establish the desired'indented position of the needle with respect to edges of the cloth.

The driving wheel 15 for the stitching apparatus may be actuated through any appropriate means. In the embodiment illustrated the drive is taken off the power shaft Ill (Fig. 1) through pulley I6 and belt 1! driving pulley 18 on shaft 19 (journaled in frame brackets as at pulley 8| on shaft 19 and belt 82 driving pulley 83 on shaft 84 (journaled in frame brackets 85), through pulley 86 on the other end of'shaft 84, and cross over belt 87 actuating drive wheel 15.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for folding a web of fabric longitudinally and stitching the marginal free edges thereof together and comprising in combination, a stationary frame with downwardly inclined converging sides and web guide means spaced below the same having a slotted passage equidistant from said sides, control arms arranged in a V and pivoted adjacent the forward ends thereof adjacent the point of convergence of said frame sides, said arms normally engaging with equal pressure the opposite side portions of a web moving downwardly and inwardly from the frame, pressure sensitive means carried 'by said arms normally engaging opposite side edges of said web and normally in inactive position, said means being effective upon an increase and decrease respectively in pressure thereagainst to pivot the arm associated therewith toward and away from the adjacent side of the moving Web, and a stitcher mechanism in spaced relation to said marginal edgesof a folded web issuing from said guide means, pressure sensitive means associated with the stitcher engaging said free. edges in ad! vance thereof, said means being normally in. inactive position and being effective upon a decrease and increase respectively in pressure thereagainst to move said stitcher toward and away fromv said free edges, said stitcher mechanism and its associated pressure sensitive-means being mounted for parallel travel crosswise of said moving folded web.

2. Apparatus for folding a web of fabric longitudinally and stitching the marginal free edges thereof together and comprising in combination, a stationary frame with downwardly inclined converging sides and web guide means spaced below the same having a slotted passage equidistant from each of said sides, control arms arranged in a V and pivoted adjacent the forward ends thereof adjacent the point of convergence of said frame sides, said arms normally engaging with equal pressure the opposite side portions of a web moving dowwnardly and inwardly from the sides of the frame, switch operated means to pivot said arms, switch control fingers carried by said arms normally engaging opposite downwardly moving edges of said web and in position'to maintain said switch means inactive, said fingers being movable upon an increase in pressure thereagainst to actuate a switch for pivotal movement of the arms inwardly and upon a decrease in pressure to actuate a switch for pivotal arm movement outwardly of the frame, a rotary paddle positioned below said slotted passage and having spaced fins for turning said folded web horizontally away from said frame, stitcher mechanism in horizontal spaced relation to said paddle and adjacent the superimposed free marginal edges of a folded web issuing from said guide means and turned horizontally by said paddle, a carriage movable transversely of said web and carrying said stitcher, a switch control finger on said carriage and normally engaging the free marginal edges of the web in advance of said stitcher, said finger being normally in inactive position and effective upon an increase in pressure thereagainst to actuate a switch to move said carriage away from said moving web edge and on a decrease in pressure to actuate a switch to move the carriage toward said web edges, means to draw a folded web past said stitcher mechanism and means to hold said unfolded web under tension in advance of said stationary frame.

3. Apparatus for folding a web of fabric longitudinally and stitching the superimposed marginal free edges thereof comprising a. stationary folder frame with downwardly inclined converging sides, guide means below said frame having a slotted passage equidistant from each of said sides to receive in face to face relation the inwardly directed sides of a downwardly moving Web drawn over said frame with the longitudinal center line at the apex of said convergent frame sides, a guide rod extending from said apex vertically through said slotted passage adjacent one end thereof to maintain the path of the central fold line of said moving web, control arms arranged in a V with the forward ends mounted for pivotal movement adjacent the forward ends thereof and adjacent the point of convergence of said frame sides, the angle between said frame sides being greater than the angle between said arms, said arms being mounted at their rearward ends for movement transversely of said 10 frame and switch controlled means formovlng the same, switch control fingers carried by said arms normally engaging the downwardly moving edges of said Web in a position to maintain said I switch means inactive, said fingers being movable under an increase in pressure to actuate a'switch for pivotal movement of the arms, inwardly and 7 upon a decrease in pressure to actuate aswitch for arm movement outwardly whereby the pressure of said controlarms against the sides of the moving web is varied as said web tends to shift in passing over said frame, means to draw a folded web of fabric from said slotted guide means and means in, advance of said holder frame to hold an unfolded web under tension against said drawing means, a stitcher spaced from said slotted guide means in advance of said drawing means and adjacent the superimposed;

4. Apparatus for folding a web of fabric longitudinally and comprising in combination, a stationary frame with downwardly inclined converging sides and web guide means arranged below the frame with a slotted passage equidistant from each of the frame sides, control arms arranged in a V with the forward ends being fixed for pivotal movement adjacent the apex of the angle formed by the frame sides, the angle between the sides of said frame being greater than the angle between the control arms, said control arms normally engaging with equal pressure the opposite sides of a downwardly moving fabric web passing over said frame sides and through the slotted passage of said guide means, and means to pivot said control arms inwardly and outwardly of and below the frame sides.

5. Apparatus for folding a web of fabric longitudinally and comprising in combination, a stationary frame with downwardly inclined converging sides and web guide means arranged below the frame with a slotted passage equidistant from each of the frame sides, control arms arranged in a V with the forward end being fixed for pivotal movement adjacent the apex of the angle formed by the frame sides, the angle between the sides of said frame being greater than the angle between the control arms, said control arms normally engaging the opposite sides of a downwardly moving web with equal pressure, switch control elements carried by the arms and normally engaging the downwardly moving marginal edges of the web in position to hold the switches controlled by the elements inactive, each of said elements being movable by an increased pressure thereagainst to actuate a switch to move the control arm associated therewith inwardly and upon a decrease in pressure to move said control arm outwardly of its adjacent frame side.

6. Apparatus for folding a web of fabric 1ongitudinally and comp-rising in combination, a stationary frame with downwardly inclined converging sides and web guide means arranged below the frame with a slotted passage equidistant from each of the frame sides, control arms arranged in a V with the forward ends being fixed for pivotal movement adjacent the apex of the angle formed by the frame sides, the angle be' tween the sides of said frame being greater than the angle between the control arms, said control arms normally engaging the opposite sides of a downwardly moving web with equal pressure, switch control fingers carried by the arms and normally engaging the downwardly moving web edges in position to hold the switches controlled by the fingers inactive, reversible motors associated with said switch control fingers and worm screws directed transversely of said frame and driven by said motors, carrier blocks threaded on said worms carrying the rearward ends of said arms, each of said fingers being movable by an increase in pressure thereagainst to actuate a switch to drive said motor in one direction for movement of the arm inwardly and upon a decrease in pressure to drive said motor in the opposite direction,

7. Apparatus for folding a web of fabric longitudinally and comprising in combination, a stationary frame with downwardly inclined converging sides and web guide means arranged below the frame with a slotted passage equidistant from each of the frame sides, control arms arranged in a V and pivotally mounted adjacent the forward ends thereof forwardly and downwardly at each side of the apex of the angle formed by said frame sides, the angle between the sides of said frame being greater than the angle between the control arms and the angle of inclination of said control arms being less than the angle of inclination of said frame sides, worm screws arranged end to end between the rearward ends of said control arms, carriers threaded on the worms and supporting the ends of the arms, a reversible motor driving each worm screw and switches controlling said motors, switch control fingers carried by the arms and normally engaging the edges of a downwardly moving web in position to hold the switches controlled by the finger inactive, each of said fingers being movable by an increase in pressure thereagainst to actuate a switch to drive said motor in on direction for movement of said arm inwardly and upon a decrease in pressure to drive said motor in the opposite direction.

DWIGHT W. ELLIS, SR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,857,735 Monforts et a1 May 10, 1932 1,865,945 Monforts et al July 5, 1932 2,313,433 Golden Mar. 9, 1943 2,546,527 Smyth Mar. 27, 1951 

